Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-12-29
DAILY HERALD.
BEET SUGAR.
u.esver From CLAUS Spreckels IN
Relation Thereto.

ceived by A. j. spencer III iei"'io" "
the cultivation of sugar beets IN
Southern California:
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Dec. 81, 1897.
A. J. Spencer, Esq, Long Beach, Los
Angeles County:
DEAR SIR: Tie inquiries regarding
the cultivation of sugar beets IN Cali
fornia. and my intentions as to the
erection of factories, have become SO
numerous that it is utterly impossible
10 send q separate written reply tol
each individual. l have, therefore,
framed this letter which embraces all
the necessary information that l am
rrepared to give at the present time.
NV belief is that the cultivation Of
sugar beets will soon be one Of the
largest agricultural pursuits. not only
in California but in all the Western
States and Territories, both soil and
climate being more favorable to the
purpose than even in Germany. The
failure in the past to manufacture su-
gar from beets, on paying basis, has
been mainly due to the absence OF the
best available machinery. The beets
that were grown have been suitable
for the purpo but the machinery
has been deficient. This, however,
will be obviated in the future, as L
have secured the right for the who
Of the United States, OF all the latest
mechanical appliances and manufact-
uring methods that are now in use in
Germany, which is the largest and
most successful beet sugar producing
country in the world.
The soil best adapted for growing
sugar beets is rich, sandy loan.
Beets must not be grown successfully
in the same soil, and they must never
be manured:. Land that has produced
4 crop OF beets should be planted in
grain the next year, then manured
and planted again in grain, and in the
third year it may be replanted with
beets, but must not be manured that
year. Thus farm of 150 acres would
enable farmer to grow fifty acres Of
sugar beets in each year. and l think
may safely say that the fifty acres
planted in beets will prove more prof
table each year than the whole of the
other hundred acres that are produc-
ing grain at present prices. The price
of beets will be determined by the
percentage OF saccharine matter that
they contain, O few beets being taken
from each load as delivered at the fac
tory, for analysis-the result of that
analysis forming the basis upon which
each load shall be paid for. By this
means the best beets will obtain the
best price, and the farmer will be en-
couraged to careful cultivation.
propose to erect one factory at
Watsonville, at cost of about $780,
COOL which will be in full operation by
September /, 1883. This factory will
consume $50 tons OF beets in every "a
hours, but be doubled by the follow
ing year. At present it will require
100 cords OF wood and seven tons OF
lime daily during the four or five
months that it is in operation. This
viii show tine Necessity for having
good supplies of wood and lime close
to the factory, which should also be
near to line of railroad or to suitable
water fac lities for shipment of raw
sugar to San Francisco. The lime is
a good fertilizer and can be returned
to the soil again. The pulp from the
beets can be fed to cattle and will
keep them in fine condition.
Before erecting a factory anywhere
l must be guaranteed that at least
2500 acres will be planted in beets
every year for a definite number OF
years. / must also be assured of suf-
fcient supplies of wood, water, and
lime in the neighborhood, and good
transportation facilities. 1t requires
from fifteen to twenty pounds of beet
seed to plant an acre of ground. The
seed costs ten cents per pound in Ger
many and would probably cost twelve
cents per pound here. l am import
ing twenty-five tons, which are now
on the way, and some of this will be
distributed gratuitously, in small
packages, to those who desire to ex-
Pericnt on their farms. But | shall
expect in return that those who do
make such experiments from seed
that give them, will send me sam
pies of the beets which they grow,
and OF the soil in which they are
grown, for the purpose of analysis. 1t
AAAbs'V 10 tltdt tlI6 ldlEc
beets are not the best for making su-
gar. II the soil be very rich the beets
should not be planted more than four
inches apart in the rows. If the soil
be OF good quality the beets should be
SIX inches apart in the rows, and
eight inches agart if the soil be not so
good. The rows should always be
sixteen inches apart from one an
ether.
A factory will cost about 1926 900,
but, for the first one, some OF the ma
chinery must be imported from Ger
many. Subsequently anticipate no
difficulty in its being manufactured in
this country. A site of from thirty to
forty acres is necessary wherever
each factory is erected, so as to give
ample room for the large quantity of
machinery and buildings, also for the
prompt handling Of the great number
of wagons that will be delivering
beets at the same time, SO that the
wagons may not be delayed and the
work OF the farmers impeded.
1t is impossible yet to determine
where factories should be located. I
have received invitations from all
sections OF California, Oregon and
Washington Territerysto visit differ
ent localities, and will endeavor to
do so as quickly as possible. From
the foregoing remarks, however, you
Will be able to form an idea of what is
essential to the erection OF factory.
Such information as | have indicated,
IT forwarded to me in conjunction
with samples OF soils and beets, will
assist me in locating the
sites OF future factories. / am sir,
yours very truly,
CLAUS SPRECKELs,
President.